WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Food
and Drug Administration has said Bisphenol A, or BPA, is safe. 
However, an expert panel of the National
Institutes of Health reported on Wednesday that it has concerns that the
chemical used in many plastics could be toxic, particularly in children.

   The federal health
experts report they can't totally rule out the dangers of Bisphenol A, which is
used in baby bottles, water bottles, CDs, some food containers, dental sealants
and other hard plastics. 

  In its final report, the National
Toxicology Program concludes that, based on insufficient or limited
evidence, there is "some concern" about BPA's effects on the brain,
behavior and prostate gland in children. It said there is  "minimal
concern" that BPA harms reproductive organs in girls or people who work
with the chemical.

  It's a far cry from calling BPA
dangerous but environmentalists say any level of concern is too much.

  "I think that, when it
comes to our children, even some level of concern is too high, and we should try
to minimize exposures among our vulnerable populations,” said Anila Jacobs, a
senior scientist for the Environmental
Working Group, a nonprofit research organization based in Washington.

  There is widespread exposure to
BPA.  The Centers for Disease
Control has detected low levels in 93 percent of Americans who have been tested.

  Most of what we know about it
comes from hundreds of conflicting animal studies. 
NIH experts say there's no way to know if what happened in lab rats could
also happen in people.

   This latest report is
neither an indictment nor a free pass on BPA.  But the plastics industry says consumers should be reassured.

  “When that information from
NTP is considered by FDA -- along with additional information, for example, on
human exposure – the FDA reaffirms that products containing Bisphenol A,
products such as baby bottles and so on, are safe for use,” said Stephen
Hentges, a spokesman for the American Chemistry Council.

  NIH called for more research.  The
FDA, which is set to finalize its decision on BPA soon, is asking for public
comment later this month.  In the
meantime, some large stores, like Wal-Mart, have said they'll stop selling baby
bottles made with BPA.